Content Area(s): Engineering/Tech Topic: Bottled water is no safer than tap water. Short description: Many people choose to drink bottled water because they believe it is healthier and safer than tap water. Studies show, however, that bottled water is usually no safer or cleaner than tap water.
Claim: Bottled water is usually no cleaner or safer for you than tap water.
Keywords: tap water, water quality Difficulty of Concept: Easy
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy
RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
The U.S. goes through about 50 billion bottles of water each year. That amounts to 21 gallons of bottled water per person per year. Bottled water drinkers were twice as likely to cite health as the main reason for their choice of water than any other reason. But, as it turns out, even though bottled water costs more than 1,000 times that coming from the tap, bottled water is usually no safer or cleaner than tap water. In fact, bottled water is less regulated than public water supplies.
Municipal tap water is regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) while bottled water is regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The regulations for bottled water are less strict than those for tap water. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that public water systems test tap water annually for various contaminants using certified laboratories and issue a water-quality report, called the consumer-confidence report (CCR). In contrast, bottled water manufacturers don't have to use certified laboratories or report the results of any water quality testing to the FDA, even if the contaminants exceed federal standards. Municipal water suppliers must also test for bacteria several times per day, while bottled water only requires this testing once per week.
One study showed that many bottles of water claim to be spring water or glacial water but are really just filled with ordinary municipal tap water. More than 25% of bottled water comes from the tap. In many cases the bottled water was no purer than tap water. When water from five national brands of bottled water was compared to water from drinking fountains in New York City, no difference was found. Many other studies have consistently found that tap water is as good for you as bottled. Also, the bottles themselves can pose potential health issues. The plastic bottles can release chemicals such as DEHA, a possible human carcinogen, and BBP, a potential hormone disruptor. And because the plastic is porous you'll likely get some harmful bacteria with each gulp if you reuse the bottles. Bottom line, test after test shows no evidence that bottled water is any healthier than tap water.
Title: Take It From the Tap
Content Area(s): Engineering/TechTopic: Bottled water is no safer than tap water.
Short description: Many people choose to drink bottled water because they believe it is healthier and safer than tap water. Studies show, however, that bottled water is usually no safer or cleaner than tap water.
Claim: Bottled water is usually no cleaner or safer for you than tap water.
Keywords: tap water, water quality
Difficulty of Concept: Easy
Reading Level (Pit Stop 8 Article):
Flesch Reading Ease: 46.9Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 11.4
Lexile: 1270
Next Generation Science Standards:
MS-ETS1 Engineering DesignMS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/LiteracyRST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: FDA, carcinogen, porus
Topic of Game Introduction Video: Logic/Generalization
Link to Game Introduction Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRk8Orv5xoI
Full Text of Article:
The U.S. goes through about 50 billion bottles of water each year. That amounts to 21 gallons of bottled water per person per year. Bottled water drinkers were twice as likely to cite health as the main reason for their choice of water than any other reason. But, as it turns out, even though bottled water costs more than 1,000 times that coming from the tap, bottled water is usually no safer or cleaner than tap water. In fact, bottled water is less regulated than public water supplies.Municipal tap water is regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) while bottled water is regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The regulations for bottled water are less strict than those for tap water. The Safe Drinking Water Act requires that public water systems test tap water annually for various contaminants using certified laboratories and issue a water-quality report, called the consumer-confidence report (CCR). In contrast, bottled water manufacturers don't have to use certified laboratories or report the results of any water quality testing to the FDA, even if the contaminants exceed federal standards. Municipal water suppliers must also test for bacteria several times per day, while bottled water only requires this testing once per week.
One study showed that many bottles of water claim to be spring water or glacial water but are really just filled with ordinary municipal tap water. More than 25% of bottled water comes from the tap. In many cases the bottled water was no purer than tap water. When water from five national brands of bottled water was compared to water from drinking fountains in New York City, no difference was found. Many other studies have consistently found that tap water is as good for you as bottled. Also, the bottles themselves can pose potential health issues. The plastic bottles can release chemicals such as DEHA, a possible human carcinogen, and BBP, a potential hormone disruptor. And because the plastic is porous you'll likely get some harmful bacteria with each gulp if you reuse the bottles. Bottom line, test after test shows no evidence that bottled water is any healthier than tap water.
References/Sources:
Additional Content:
Author: Cindy Wilbur